Hill silences Syracuse’s bats as Hens win

6/16/2013

BLADE STAFF

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Mud Hens won their fifth straight game as pitcher Shawn Hill quieted the Syracuse bats in Saturday’s 2-1 victory.

Hill, who earned his first win of the season, scattered four hits and one run over seven strong innings as Toledo won for the ninth time in 10 games. This time it was a pitching duel after the teams combined for 13 runs in a 7-6 Mud Hens victory on Friday.

The only blemish for Hill (1-8) was a two-out double by Zach Walters in the fourth inning that gave the Chiefs an early 1-0 lead.

Avisail Garcia and Brandon Douglas provided the offensive punch for the Hens, with a pair of RBI singles in the fifth inning to give Toledo a 2-1 lead.

Mike Cervenak opened the fifth inning with a single and Bryan Holaday and Argenis Diaz followed with one-out singles to load the bases. Garcia then knocked in Cervanek on a base hit up the middle. Douglas then reached on a bunt single that scored Holaday.

That was all Hill would need as the right-hander allowed only one extra-base hit. He struck out one and walked three as the Chiefs failed to figure him out.

Hill gave way to Al Alburquerque, who shut down the Chiefs over the final two innings, earning his first save of the season. He walked two and struck out four.

The Hens combined for 11 hits on the game, with Garcia, Holaday, and Danny Worth recording two hits each.

Jeff Mandel (1-3) was the losing pitcher for Syracuse. The Hens managed nine hits and two runs off of Mandel in his seven innings of work.

The Chiefs’ Zach Walters had two hits on the game.

The win moves Toledo to 29-41 on the season while Syracuse drops to 27-39.

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